The Miracle of the Oil or the Military Victory?...
The Gemara makes no mention of the military victory over the Syrian Greeks, it only mentions that they found one flask of oil and it lasted eight days. Al HaNisim only...
Vessels for the Light
Why do we commemorate the re-inauguration of the Second Beit HaMikdash and the dedication of the Mishkan but not the original dedication of the Beit HaMikdash in the time of Shlomo?...
Chanukah and Chinuch: The Power of the Beginning
Pnei Yehoshua: Hashem only performs miracles when necessary. If so, why was there a need for the miracle of the oil – if there was only impure oil they could have...
Mizmor Shir Chanukat Habayit L’David: The Jewel of Rav...
After Shacharit, we say Tehillim 30. The header is מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית לדוד. What does the header (the inauguration of the Bet HaMikdash) have to do with the rest of...
The Inner Dimension of Chanukah: The Bas Ayin and...
The Bat Ayin (the Avritcher Rebbe) writes that the purpose of Chanukah is to fix the תוהו (the nothingness before creation) with light, similar to the אור of the first day...
Ner Chanukah and Hekeira
In a society where candles were used for light (before electricity), how did one ensure that the candles used for Ner Chanukah are recognizable as being for a mitzvah – especially...
Light Up the Legs
Why does the Gemara use the term “עד שתכלה רגל מן השוק” – specifically the leg to describe the time for lighting the menorah? What is the connection to the Regalim?...
The Light of Chanukah: How to Achieve Beyond Your...
Chanukah was instituted for Hallel and Hoda’ah. Hoda’ah refers to Al HaNisim. Why does the Gemara focus on the miracle of the oil whereas Al HaNisim omits it completely? How do...
Fiery Facets and Faces
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com Adapted by Channie Koplowitz Stein We are all familiar with the story of Chanukah, of how the Syrian Greeks tried to eradicate the Jewish connection to Hashem...
Reason, Faith and Creativity
Yavan is referred to as חושך darkness because of the decree of “כתבו לכם על קרן השור אין לכם חלק באלוקי ישראל”. Why is that specifically darkness? ופרצו חומות מגדלי: The...
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- Asarah B'Tevet
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- Four Shabbatot
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- Yom HaAtzmaut
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